Portable thawing-furnace.



T. D. BAUSHBR. PORTABLE THAWING UBAGE. APPLIATION FILED JAN. 31, 1910.

?g 9 Patented' Sept. 27, 1910,

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THOMAS D. BAUSHER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE THAWING-FURNACE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. BAUsrrnR, citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Thawing-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable thawing furnaces and the object of the present invention is to provide a portable furnace for removing snow and ice from the surfaces of roadways or railways used by trolley or traction companies.

rlhe invention consists of a portable truck, on which is mounted a furnace having a grated bottom and air inlets at the top, whereby a downward draft through the furnace is obtained by the motion of the truck, thus projecting a blast of heated air down against the surface of the road over which the truck passes.

The invention is more fully described in the following specification and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of my truck and furnace, with the furnace partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

The numeral l designates the frame, which is made of a pair of bars, bent to form a receptacle for the furnace 2 to rest upon. These bars are joined at the front end by a cross bar 3, through the center of which the king bolt 4 of the truck passes and on which the cross bar may move vertically. The rear ends of the bars l are secured to the rear axle in vertically movable manner by means of bolts 5, on which the ends of the bars may move up and down, should the lower portions of the bars or the furnace strike an obstruction in the road. The furnace 2 rests on the lowermost portions of these bars and consists of a casing, having a grated bottom 6, on which l. place a number of fuel cartridges containing a specially prepared fuel. The furnace is provided with openings 7 in the side, through which these cartridges may be inserted and it is also provided with air in- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 31, 1910.

Patented Sept. 2?, lli. Serial No. 541,091.

lets 8 on the top, for admitting air to the furnace. These inlets are provided with swinging closure plates 9 by means of which the supply of air may be cut olf.

On the top of the furnace I provide a water tank l0, provided with a suitable tap ll and having a depending perforated pipe l2 at its rear end. The rear end of the tank projects beyond the end of the furnace and extends over the rear axle, so that the hot water is delivered behind the wheels.

The operation is as follows The fuel cartridges are ignited and placed in the furnace on the grated bottom; the doors are closed, and the forward movement of the truck will cause a current of air to pass through the furnace and send a blast of hot air down through the grate against the road surface. rlhe water in the tank will also become heated and may be delivered to the roadway through the sprinkler, to aid in the melting. The effect will be to melt the snow that may cover the surface. The water will be heated by the furnace with what heat would ordinarily escape by radiation from the furnace top.

It is evidentl that when the snow is deep or when ice has formed, it may be necessary to pass over the same surface a second time.

It is also evident that the device may be used with good results on side walks as well as roadways and street railways.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a portable thawing furnace, a pair of axles mounted on suitable wheels, a frame comprising a pair of bars bent to form a depending receptacle and having vertically movable connection with the axles; a furnace located in the depending portion of the bars, said furnace having an open grated bottom, doors through which the fuel may be entered, air inlets at the forward end in the top, closures for said inlets and a water tank located on the top of the furnace to the rear of the air inlets.

Q. In a combined portable furnace and sprinkler, a truck comprising a set of wheels and axles, a frame comprising a pair of bars mounted on the truck, a furnace located on the frame, the frame and furnace being Capable of Vertical movement on the truck, said furnace having an open grated bottom, doors on tlie Side to admit fuel, air inlets at the top, closure plates for said inlets and a Water tank located on top of the furnace and projecting beyond the rear end thereof and a depending perforated pipe leading from said tank to a point near the road surface. 10 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 1n presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS D. BAUSHER. lllitnesses En. A. KELLY, CAMERON E. STRAUSS. 

